CONSTITUTION
1 IDENTITY
AXREM will be the preferred and normal means of identifying the Association.
2 SCOPE
The scope of AXREM comprises all types of diagnostic imaging, radiotherapy and critical care equipment and solutions, as well as associated IT. The conduct of AXREM will afford due consideration to the requirements of the Competition Act, as regulated by the Competition and Markets Authority. AXREM has a strict ‘Code of Conduct’ which should be observed by members at all times, including reporting processes on compliance and regulation to ensure strict compliance.
3 OBJECTIVES
The objectives for which AXREM is established are:
(a) to promote awareness of the contribution of the members’ products and services towards improving the effectiveness of healthcare delivery and ultimately the Health of the Nation.
(b) to promote the interests of companies engaged in selling, financing, and supporting the equipment, technology and solutions coming within the scope of AXREM.
(c) to represent members in discussions with government agencies and private organisations in establishing recommended standard terms of business.
(d) to engage with government directly on matters and issues raised by AXREM members, to research and provide information on parliamentary debates, round table discussion and all-party parliamentary groups. To raise the profile of AXREM in parliament and be the ‘go to’ organisation for medical imaging and medical IT products.
(e) to provide a forum for discussion and to establish channels of communication between members and other bodies having similar or allied interests.
(f) to collect and collate reliable statistics for each sector of the industry and to circulate relevant data to members.
(g) to work with UK, European and international standards organisations on the preparation of standards applicable to the industry covered by the scope of AXREM.
(h) to provide timely and relevant data on technology/application trends to health technology assessment groups and professional bodies.
(i) to act on behalf of its members for the execution of literary, promotional, exhibition and other undertakings related to AXREM’s interests.
(j) to participate on behalf of its members in European and international industry sector activities.
4 VISION & MISSION
Vision:
‘To be the leading authority representing manufacturers & suppliers of diagnostic imaging, radiotherapy, patient monitoring and associated digital innovations.’
Mission:
‘To bring our industry leading expertise and technology together to improve the effectiveness of healthcare delivery and ultimately the health of the nation’.
AXREM have a strategic proactive approach ensuring we have regular engagement with other industry groups and government organisations to support our Vision and Mission.
5 MEMBERSHIP & AFFILIATE MEMBERSHIP
Membership of AXREM shall be open to any Company operating in the UK as an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) supplier of imaging, radiotherapy, patient monitoring modalities or, where the OEM does not have a presence in the UK, then membership may be extended to a (single) nominated agent in the UK. Members must also be willing to abide by the terms of the Constitution.
Members shall be expected to adhere to appropriate quality standards and to abide by all relevant UK laws and regulations. In line with recognised business practice, AXREM has a Code of Conduct which is available on the AXREM website. https://www.axrem.org.uk/about-us/code-of-conduct-2/
5.1 MEMBERSHIP
There shall be three categories of membership: –
A Member Company – Multi-Interest is a company that that qualifies as an OEM (or single UK nominated agent) of imaging, radiotherapy or patient monitoring modalities, and provides a wide range of products and services to the UK healthcare sector, e.g. Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Computed Tomography, Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) & IT Solutions, Radiotherapy, Ultrasound, Contrast Media, etc.
A multi -interest member is entitled to two votes at Executive Committee.
A Member Company is one that does not qualify as a “Multi-Interest” member, but qualifies as an OEM (or single UK nominated agent) of imaging, radiotherapy or patient monitoring modalities with a particular area of activity, and provides those related products and services to the UK healthcare sector, e.g. Radiotherapy equipment.
A member company is entitled to one vote at Executive committee.
A Specialist Focus Group Member is a company which does not qualify as a Member (or Multi-Interest Member), but is an OEM (or single nominated UK agent) that wishes to engage within an AXREM Specialist Focus Group and provides a discrete range of products and services to one specialised element of UK healthcare sector, e.g. PACS, RIS or AI solutions.
A specialist focus group is entitled to one vote at executive committee, such vote to be cast by the convenor.
5.2 AFFILIATE MEMBERSHIP
Where a company does not qualify for full AXREM membership, the association offers an affiliate membership. This membership is open to companies that provide products and services that complement our full members medical technologies or that work alongside them.
A company applying for affiliate membership must have/ supply products and services relevant to diagnostic imaging, radiotherapy, the associated IT/ AI and patient monitoring i.e. specialist cleaning products, radiation protections products for example.
There shall be three categories of membership: –
Small company (0-50 employees)
Medium company (51-100 employees)
Large company (100+ employees)
In the event that a company applying for membership or affiliate membership to AXREM does not meet any of the six categories of membership detailed in section 5.1 & 5.2, then the following shall apply: Applications for AXREM membership will be considered by the Executive Committee on a case by case basis. If the applicant company is closely aligned with an existing category of membership and their membership would present no conflict of interest with other members, the Committee may accept the company into membership under the most appropriate category.
The Committee will determine eligibility, suitability for AXREM and the appropriate category of membership. The Committee will also afford due consideration to the requirements of the Competition Act, as regulated by the Competition and Markets Authority.
6 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
AXREM is governed by an Executive Committee who usually meet quarterly. Each Member Company is represented by one voting executive. Each Multi-Interest Member Company can be represented by two executives but may choose to exercise their two votes through one attendee at Executive Committee meetings. Members of Specialist Focus Groups are represented on the Executive by their elected Convenor who has one vote. For clarity, the elected convenor of a Specialist Focus Group is voting on behalf of their members within the SFG and not as a company executive.
It is possible for any serving executive member to delegate attendance and their voting rights to another employee of the same company, but the attendees from any one company should not exceed the guidelines above. Proxy and postal votes lodged with the AXREM Chief Executive Officer in writing are acceptable. Every voting matter shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the members present including proxy votes and postal voting on the question. If there is an equality of votes, the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote.
7 OFFICERS
The officers of AXREM shall comprise a Chair and a Vice-Chair who shall be elected by the Executive Committee from among its members. This process should start by the AXREM Chief Executive Officer emailing all Executive Committee members seeking nominations and then conducting a secret ballot via email including a bio of each candidate, using the Executive Committees’ voting allocation as detailed in clause 5 of the Constitution. In the event there is only one applicant the Executive Committee should be notified, and the applicant approved by the Executive Committee before an appointment is made.
Office holders shall serve a total of four calendar years comprising of one year as Vice- Chair followed by two years as Chair followed by a further year as Vice-Chair. At the end of the first year of office as Chair, a Vice-Chair (Chair-elect) shall be elected. If the Chair or Vice Chair leaves their role before the end of the term the same timescales should still apply to any new appointment.
The officers of the Association should endeavour to attend all Executive meetings to ensure continuity and obligation to the Association and its members. An officer unable to attend two meetings in any 12 months period would be deemed not to be demonstrating the required commitment to hold such a post.
The Executive Committee has the rights and responsibility to ensure that the Chair of the Executive Committee and the Convenors of Specialist-Focus and Special Interest Groups, act in the full and appropriate interest of the membership of the Association. If the Executive Committee members deem that the Chair/Convenor is performing their duties in a manner which is inappropriate and or may damage the reputation of the Association, then the Executive can vote to remove the position from that representative.
8 SPECIALIST FOCUS GROUPS
The Executive Committee shall establish a number of standing Specialist Focus Groups reflecting the composition of the Association’s membership (e.g. Artificial Intelligence, Imaging IT, Radiotherapy, Ultrasound, etc,) with each group meeting at least twice per year.
Specialist Focus Groups shall elect (by majority voting) their own Convenor and if that representative is already a member of the Executive Committee, he/she shall represent their interests in the Executive Committee. Otherwise, the Convenor will represent the Group at Executive Committee meetings. Each Convenor of a Specialist Focus Group shall serve for a maximum of two years at which time an election within the group shall take place. The election for a Convenor or vice convenor shall follow the same process as the Executive Committee as in point 7 within the SFG.
The appointed Convenor of each Group shall report to the Executive Committee appropriate actions to be taken under the AXREM name, and seek qualification and confirmation as required.
9 SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS
The Executive Committee shall establish Special Interest Groups to address specific issues of interest across the Association. Typical issues would be Statistics, Contract conditions, Congress and exhibitions, Service managers, Marketing etc. These groups meet when required with the frequency being decided by the Special Interest Group established and members views.
Any existing AXREM Member may join a Special Interest Group. Special Interest Groups shall elect their own Convenor and if that representative is already a member.
of the Executive Committee he/she shall report on the groups’ activities to the Executive Committee. Otherwise, the Convenor may be invited to attend appropriate Executive Committee meetings. Each Convenor of a Special Interest Group shall serve for a maximum of two years at which time an election within the group shall take place.
The appointed Convenor of each group shall communicate to the Executive committee any actions to be taken under the AXREM name, and seek qualification and confirmation as required.
Once approved, minutes of the Executive Committee meetings will be made available to all AXREM members.
10 ADMINISTRATION
AXREM shall be administered by the Secretariat, currently the GAMBICA Association Limited. The Secretariat will appoint a Chief Executive Officer who will be responsible for the management and administration function of AXREM and for ensuring the provision of all services necessary to meet.
AXREM’s objectives. If the AXREM Executive Committee vote to place the administration of the Secretariat with a body other than GAMBICA, then the Executive Committee shall give at least twelve months written notice. The notice is to expire on the date that coincides with the end of the subscription year. A shorter period of termination is possible by mutual consent.
11 RESIGNATION OF MEMBERSHIP
Any member may resign its membership by giving at least six months written notice to expire on the date that coincides with the end of the subscription year. The subscription year ends on 30 September. Any resignation notice shall be valid only if outstanding sums payable to the Secretariat by that date have been paid.
12 SUBSCRIPTIONS
The level of subscription shall reflect the membership category on a sliding scale from, Multi-Interest Member, Member, to Specialist Focus Group Member. The financial year of the Association shall be from the 1 October to the 30 September.
The Executive Committee will during its early autumn meeting, review the October to September statement for the Project and Expense Funds. Following the review, the Chief Executive Officer will propose to the Executive Committee, budgets for Funds for the next financial year and the consequent levels of subscription.
Changes to subscriptions shall be brought before the Executive Committee and carried on a majority vote. The Executive Committee can agree any required recovery being apportioned pro – rata on the three levels of membership.
The two elements comprising the subscription are as follows:
(a) Administration: The general administration costs will cover the provision by the Secretariat of staff, and facilities.
(b) Expense Fund: General expenses will provide for the recovery of direct costs arising from the AXREM website, hire of meeting facilities, travel by AXREM staff on AXREM business and other miscellaneous expenses.
(c) Project Fund: Costs relating to special focus group activities, special events, one of association costs and external consultancy costs.
The Executive Committee shall determine the level of member contribution to any unbudgeted special projects.
LAST UPDATED 9th February 2024